Rhode Island: In a Year After a Big Win, Four Major Priorities for 2019

Last
year was Rhode Island’s first year with a full-time Government Affairs Office
(GAO) program—And what a year it was. Together with our Rhode Island office
staff, field staff, clients, and families, we were able to band our voices
together in advocacy to achieve monumental increases on behalf of our staff and
clients.

As a
result of our efforts, the State increased Medicaid rates for certified nursing
assitants (CNAs), and to the State’s private duty nursing (PDN) program. These
increases allow BAYADA to raise field workers’ wages and better compete for a
larger segment of the workforce. As a result, BAYADA is in a better position to
recruit and retain the staff necessary to keep up with demand, and Rhode
Islanders are poised to see increased access to reliable, consistent care.

Our
work is far from done. BAYADA’s GAO, along with the continued advocacy of so
many of you, is focusing on four key issues at this time:

Priority #1: Continued COLa Adjustments

GAO Director for RI and NY, Ashley Sadlier, testifies in support of COLa adjustments for home care workers

The
2018 increases also included a first-in-the-nation Cost of Living adjustment
(COLa), which will provide additional increases to Medicaid rates
every year based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Cost of Medical Services
annual adjustment. Our first majority priority
for 2019 is to ensure that the state keeps its commitment to COLa and
includes it in the state budget each year. If passed, this year’s COLa will add
an additional 1.9% to current rates to ensure they remain consistent with
actual, determined cost of living increases. In March, GAO director Ashley Sadlier testified in support of this
important adjustment in front of the House and Senate Finance Committees alongside
other supporters. At this time, we see no opposition and continue to monitor COLa
through the state’s budget process.

One major
issue that Rhode Island’s skilled nursing offices often face is recruiting the
specialty-trained nurses necessary for more complex, high acuity clients. Luckily,
home care supporters in the House agree. Recently, representatives Patricia Serpa and Mia Ackerman introduced House Bill
5621, which calls for a 10% increase to Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing
services provided to clients with tracheostomies and/or ventilators. The bill
has taken the next step in the legislative process by being referred to the
House Finance Committee. Currently, GAO is awaiting a date for the bill to be heard.
If you, a loved one, or your staff or clients would benefit from such a bill,
please reach out to asadlier@bayada.com!
We hope to have a strong showing of support at the state house when the bill
moves forward and we would love your help.

Priority #3: Helping Pediatric Clients
Transition to Adult Clients

BAYADA is working with the State of RI to streamline processes for medically complex Rhode Islanders transitioning from pediatric to adult home care

BAYADA has collaborated
with the Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care (RIPHC) to advocate for
additional resources for pediatric clients currently receiving home nursing
services who are transitioning to adult services. Currently, clients that are transitioning face many challenges
navigating the system, especially when determining what programs and
services they are eligible for. BAYADA and the Partnership have met with the
Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), the Department of
Behavioral Healthcare, and Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) and
Managed Medicaid, to create plans on how
to streamline the process for this population and expand eligibility options
for families. To date, several BAYADA clients have transitioned to a more
appropriate program for the level of care that they require. GAO looks forward
to continuing to help our partners at the State to develop plans to ensure
parents, caregivers, caseworkers, schools, and agencies are equipped with the
resources necessary to assist families in navigating the challenges of
transitioning from pediatric to adult home care services.

Priority #4: Continued
relationship-building

BAYADA and the RI Partnership for Home Care meet with Rep. Joseph McNamara

While
2018 brought success to Rhode Island’s home care front, GAO continues to build
relationships to ensure that legislators and regulators understand the
importance of home care to so many of Rhode Island’s families, and support
policies that ensure its accesibility. Recently, alongside the Partnership, GAO
director Ashley Sadlier met with Rep. Joseph McNamara, the Chairman of the
Rhode Island House of Representatives Committee on Health, Education and
Welfare. Rep. McNamara is in a key role to influence legislation, and BAYADA looks
forward to continuing to be a valuable partner to Chairman McNamara—and many
other key legislators and regulators—on issues such as employee training and
supervision, access to care, and challenges that providers, employees, and
families see within the home care industry.